EA Giving Out APB Compensation?

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A post on the Steam forums suggests that ringing up EA’s support lines to complain about the untimely demise of APB might be fruitful. The poster in this instance managed to get 4000 Bioware points, which I think is about $50. Worth a shot, if you’re glum about your APB purchase, anyway.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the game gets resurrected long-term, as has been suggested in a number of rumours, and whether that will attract the original purchasers of the game. Personally, I suspect it will stay dead.

If you are one of the above, and have a choice, I’d suggest picking up The Saboteur. Mostly because it’s honestly not a bad game. It’s pretty, has a nice sound track, a better ending by far compared to other games this last decade, and it does have a sense of unique place and cool style. Seriously, if you want to only play one last video game that’s based on WW2 Nazi killing, The Saboteur is a great end note on a genre.

Regarding The Saboteur, I walked and climbed more than I drove, I thought the combat was fine, and it ran perfectly on my PC. I think it’s worth trying just for the unique setting. But apparently it’s pretty divisive.

in a slight tangent, i’m also pretty convinced that APB is going to stay quite dead. unoptimised, needs serious work on the gameplay and netcode, and already has such a stigma in the online gaming community. it would need a serious overhaul for anybody to even consider picking it up.

Ea introduces normal industry behaviour into games industrie? What the hack. To recall a bad product. That has not happened so often before, i think. My respect to you, i thought you were the bad guys a year ago. My pretty world view is crumbling.

And now i am playing an ea budget game. Dead Space. And it is good. Reminds me of System Shock. I have to rethink my boycott of EA games. But when i am looking at my shelf, my boycott was not very straight. Hellgate London, Spore, The Sims 3…

I saw APB still on the shelves of my local GAME last week, commented to one of the staff if it should still be on the shelves, she said yes, why? I informed her that all the servers had gone done not long ago (assuming she would know the significance of that, it being an MMO). She replied “They’ll probably be back up soon” :|

I had a chat with their support and was offered any game from the EA store. It was at this moment that I realized that I already own basically every EA game that I am really interested in.

I ended up going for a copy of Crysis. I would have much rather had some kind of voucher and put it towards one of the upcoming titles that I desperately want, but at least I can say I own Crysis now. It’s still cool to bang on about Crysis, right?

Just to let you guys know they are not offering a refund now. They tried to give me some crappy 25% off coupon for a game in their store. After I told him that I did not want this he proceeded to give it to me and cancel what was my APB account.

I purchased APB through the EA online store on July 3rd and two days ago I contacted EA Support through the chat interface and got a refund surprisingly fast.
This is my experience:

*****: Hi, my name is *****. How may I help you?
: Hi *****, I bought a PC game from the EA store, APB and now the service is not available and I’m left without a game to play for my money.
*****: You purchased from EA store online?
: yes
*****: Download version
*****: >?
: yes
*****: In that case, I can issue refund for that purchase
*****: give me your order number please
: Order Number: **********
*****: Give me last 4 digits of the credit card used to placed the order
: ****
*****: I have refunded the amount to used credit card.
: Thank you very much.
*****: This is your refund number- ********. Amount will credit to account within 4 to 5 days.
*****: you are welcmoe
*****: welcome
*****: Is there anything else I may assist you further?
: No that is all, thank you

I bought the Game All Points Bulletin through steam when it released in the summer and it appears it has already been dropped. Is there anyway to get reimbursement for a MMO that didn’t have servers support for more then 3 months?

Response (Marco)
09/28/2010 05:24 PM

Greetings,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Customer Support.

We understand that you purchased APB and since the game is no longer available to play, you’d like us to refund the purchase amount you spent on it. While refunding the amount is not possible in this case, as a refund to what you’ve lost, we’re offering you a free game from EA Store “http://eastore.ea.com”. If you purchased the game after 7/15/2010 then you are eligible for this offer and can select any game you would wish with a couple of exceptions as noted below:

· Only those games for which we’ve Digital Download version available on EA Store can be selected.
· Please do not select a game which is not released yet.

In order to proceed with the refund request; along with the name of the game you’d like to play, we will also need the proof of your APB purchase:

· In case of box version – attach the scanned copy of your purchase receipt in this email.
· In case of downloadable version, please provide the screenshot of your purchase proof (Email from the retailer).
· In case of digital download version from EA Store, provide us the order #.

Once you’ve provided us the proof of your purchase and name of the game you’d wish to have, we’ll entitle it on your account and then you will have to use the EA Download Manager to download the game. If you do not have EADM, you can download it here: link to eastore.ea.com

Thank you!
EA Customer Support

Customer (952E89A5A5B2D044 4AB68362446052BE)
09/28/2010 06:21 PM

Here are the screen shots of APB that I purchased and downloaded through steam.

I have browsed your game selection over a couple times and none of the current releases have any appeal to me. The game I would like is Need for Speed Hot Pursuit That releases later this fall. I know it was listed under exception but this is the only game I have really any interest in.

Response (Allen)
09/29/2010 07:11 AM

Hi,

Thank you for contacting back to Electronic Arts.

In order to assist you further in this matter, please provide us the following information

As you have not sent the purchase receipt,
please provide the screenshot of your purchase proof (Email from the retailer) and date of purchase.

Once I have this information I would be able to assist you further.

Sincerely,
Allen
EA Customer Support

Customer (952E89A5A5B2D044 4AB68362446052BE)
09/30/2010 03:04 PM

I do not happen to have the email you are requesting. This was back in early June when I pre-ordered the game and did not believe there was any reason to keep a receipt for a product I received that worked at the moment. I contacted steam support and inquired about getting a proof of purchase for you. This was their response.

Hello Lance,

Thank you for contacting Steam Support.

You can view the purchases made on your Steam account here:

– Log in to your Steam account.

– In the upper right hand corner, click the “[Your username]’s account”.

– Under “Your Steam Account”, there will be a list of your Recent Steam Store Transactions that includes the date of purchase, name of the game, and price of the game purchased.

Our billing system is automated and we are unable to resend the email receipt for your purchase or generate any type of invoice for you.

Please let us know if you have any questions, or if you encounter any further difficulty.

– If you would like proof of this message I can add a email to this support ticket for you to view.

I have below attached 3 new screen shots. One from what steam said to do and 2 from my bank account to help verify I indeed purchase this game. There is also a screen shot of me buying real time worlds points from their site.

Response (Allen)
09/30/2010 07:46 PM

Hi Lance,

Thank you for contacting back to Electronic Arts regarding APB.

We can certainly understand the frustration you have experienced over the recent closure of the APB servers. We, alongside you, were saddened to learn of these recent developments.

We at EA have worked to provide a working resolution for customers who recently purchased APB, either through the EA Store or a Third-Party Retailer.

As with all offerings, however, there is a limit to the length of time these compensatory offerings can be provided. In this case, we must limit the offer to purchases within 60 days of the game’s closure date. As your purchase did occur before 7/15/10, we will be unable to provide further compensation in this regard.

Please understand that we do value you as a customer and as a show of our appreciation, we would like to provide you with a coupon good towards 20% off a future purchase from the EA Online Store.

(off Coupon – xxxxxxxxx )

To use your code please visit the EA Online Store at http://eastore.ea.com and enter the code in the “Promotional” field at check-out.

Once again, thank you for your continued support.

Regards,

Allen
EA online Support

Customer (952E89A5A5B2D044 4AB68362446052BE)
09/30/2010 08:36 PM

So in the future when your other third party developers file for bankruptcy I can take assurance that I will get a nifty coupon then in the future as well? Glad I have this sweet this MMO that has no single player function what so ever sitting on my desktop. I guess 50 bucks inst that big of deal to EA. It is to me. You can’t do anything better then 20 percent?

Response (EARep Nelson)
09/30/2010 10:42 PM

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting EA games support.

I understand the frustration that you are enduring at this moment. This is to inform you that Real Time Worlds was the owner of the servers for this game, as well as the owner to the rights of the game as well, EA is simply trying to help out its customers through goodwill as we have no responsibility to refund or issue free games to customers for something out of our control.

Should you have any further questions, please take a moment to review our Knowledge Base site at http://support.ea.com or do let us know.

Sincerely,

EA Rep Nelson
Electronic Arts

Customer (952E89A5A5B2D044 4AB68362446052BE)
10/01/2010 10:30 AM

I don’t understand how it is out of your control. You paste your name all over this product. You distribute it, brag about your third party developers at conferences and since I preordered it several weeks ahead of its release you won’t help me? You guys have a pretty trashed name as it is on customer service and I am going to gladly post this on forums for my clan, G4tv, IGN, etc.

I won’t be buying any of your fall releases either. As you can tell from my screen shots I am a pretty heavier gamer….

I think its a joke you offered me 20 percent off a game that normally cost what 50 dollars? So 10 bucks is what my customer satisfaction is worth to you?

I found out you where doing this through a website and there where so many positive comments that EA turned to corner on being cheap to its customers. I’ll bring back the truth.

Response (Pogo Damien)
10/02/2010 03:09 AM

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts.

EA has no relationship with the digital channel Steam. Our distribution of APB was limited to specific digital partners. You purchased your game from a retailer that has no relationship with EA for APB. EA has no obligation to provide compensation of any kind. However, if you feel you are entitled to a refund or other entitlement based on the terms and circumstances of your specific purchase, we suggest that you contact Steam retailer and/or your credit card company to determine if a refund, chargeback and/or other relief is available.

If there is anything else we can help you with please let us know.

Thank you,

Damien
EA Online Support

Customer (952E89A5A5B2D044 4AB68362446052BE)
10/02/2010 12:31 PM

Wow, all I wanted was a little bit of a better discount and you through more bull shit policy at me….

You guys have a actual phone number where I can talk to a human being? Instead of 10 different people through this system?